Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-23
Gales aud Sketfhes.
TWICE A PRISONER.


before him. She was singing in clear.
sweet soprano voice snatch OF the
"Bonny Blue Flag" Her deft, snowy
fingers were occupied in unpinning various
articles from long clothes line. She
deposited each piece in large, old FASH
Toned clothes basket, which rested on the
grassy lawn at her feet.
Only moment did the young lieuten-
any stand staring at the lovely girl IN
that spell-bound manner. He soon re-
covered himself, and removing his hat, ne
bowed to her with the urbanity Of we'll
bred gentleman.
The song had died on the girls lips the
moment she caught sight OF the strange
officer, but she betrayed no signs of sur
prise or alarm. Doubtless she had be-
cone accustomed to see their private
grounds intruded upon by soldiers and
officers of both sides. Elma Starieton,
the handsome southern girl, returned
Lieut. Hartwell's polite bow with the
grace of true lady.
Time was precious. The lieutenant
realized thatt anything were done toward
his conceament it must be done at once.
He resolved to make one last effort to es-
cape through the southern girls mercy.
Curbing his pride Hartwell gave her
rapid outline of his capture and escape,
and begged permission to hide on her
premises till the search should be over
Would she pardon him and grant him her
tender, womanly mercy, and conduct him
to safe hiding place.
Elma Starleton was a true daughter to
the south. She had two brothers and a
proud old father in the confederate SER
vice. she believed the south to be in the
right and hoped prayerlully tor its ult-
mate triumph. Should she attempt to
screen this enemy to her dear cause?
Ought she not rather to do all she could
to aid it? Elma hated anything that
looked like treason. And to her it GER
,ainly assumed reasonable appearance
this QUE stion of hiding the federal officer.
But, then. had he not thrown himself on
her mercy? 1t was his last hope. One
minute Elma stood wrapped in self-deba-
tie. One lovely hand resting on the
clothes line while the other clasped hand
ful OF clothespins. IIartwell noticed the
hands, fraught with peril as each moment
was for him. and wondered if they would
mercluly direct him to hiding place or
the reverse.
1HC dututLu uIceZc llItcu luC suCCtS vi
the line. giving the southern girl a momen-
tary glimpse OF several men in gray dress.
They were halted in the neig hboring grove,
evidently debating which way to turn TO
lead them to the retreat of the hunted
Yankee. Then Elma Starleton's dark
eyes swept the face of Hartwell. He was
pale but firm. He stood awaiting the
doom or protection at her hands. All! it
is too late to aid him now. Five burly
Coniederates have started toward the
house. In few minutes they will have
seen the hunted lieutenant, screened at
present from their view by the snowy
sheet suspended from the line.
WIN Elma make no effort in his behalf?
He is so handsome She sees that his ex
hauston is owing more to recent illness
than the exerlion of his vigorous flight
There would be no honor in giving up a
sick officer. Her sympathy is aroused Tor
the young lieutenant. She will save him
if it is not too late. She feels an assurance
of right in the act.
IL will try to conceal you." she said, in
low. silvery tones. Here" and she
quickly lifted snowy mass of muslins
from the huge clothes basket, ''it
you will try to accommodate yourself to the
dimensions of my clothes basket you can
safely escape observation"
"A thousand thanks" breathed Hart
well and in The twinkling of an eve he
had coiled himself up in the big recep-
tacle for clothes. Then Elma covered
HIM carefully with the articles which she
had taken out. She then broke into a
merry song and went on removing clothes
from the line and ilinging them carelesslv
on the basket. She saw one OF the Con-
foderates jump the hedge and make his
way toward her. With we'll teigned
fright she greeted him.
like Carter! where did you spring
from ? You give me fearful start. If YOU
do so again, shall report YOU to head
quarters as putting in your time soaring
defenceless women"
Don't do it, Miss Elma; Van Dorm
would have US all court .martialed if he
heard we'd scarf you," said the man.
"No compliments, please" returned the
girl. 81 thoughtyou were encamped twelve
miles from here"
so our force is" replied the man. "A
party of us were detailed TO hunt up eggs
and butter for the generals supper. As
we were riding through Skeeter Brake We
pinned Yankee lieutenant, who seemed
10 be taking an airing quite piece from
the Federal lines. But he made his escape
while we were waiting the approach Of
some horsemen whom we could not ascer
tain TO be friends or foes till they got il
sight. They proved TO be S, me of GU
own crowd. We then told them OF tn,
capture and escape of our prisoner. S,
we all joined in the search, which PROVED
vain. He cannot be in the brake As W,
stood consulting in the grove yonder, jar
Wis thought he caught sight of blue uni
foim over here. We concluded he had rul
here to hide" repeated the contederat
rapidly.
A musical laugh foated out upon tn
breeze from the roseate lips of the south
ern girl.
IAN optical Illusion" she replied. %
presume he saw mothers blue muslin cur
tainS, and took them for Federal uni
FORM" ''Look" and she pointed to tn
azure curtains yet dangling from the line
Ike Carter glanced at the curtains a
Elma pointed, and passed his eyes owe
the ungain.y clothes basket. which sh
kept partly SC, eened by standing between
it and the rebel.
"Well, Jarvis is a clever one to sigh
Yanks, l must say." remarked Carter
laughing contemptuously. Then say
ing good dav to Elma, he strobe ava
.,;.aI h;o ono,n,,;1ne x,ho 900.